Clay Buchholz 'eases way' through rough rehab start

Feels fine after rough rehab start

Credit: Christopher Evans

ALL BUSINESS: Rehabbing starter Clay Buchholz (center) was roughed up in his short stint for Single-A Lowell last night but said he felt fine.

FISHKILL, N.Y. — Clay Buchholz says he feels physically fine, which was his main goal, after walking three batters and allowing one hit in a rehab start for the Lowell Spinners.

Buchholz, who was scheduled to throw 40-50 pitches over three innings, didn’t get out of the first after throwing 38 pitches to the Hudson Valley Renegades in a New York-Penn League game yesterday at Dutchess Stadium.

“I felt good. That was my only concern coming out here and pitching,” Buchholz said. “Physically, I felt fine. I sort of did the same thing as I’ve been doing in the sim(ulation) games and in bullpens. I eased my way through it.”

The Lowell defense made three errors behind Buchholz and didn’t do him any favors in keeping his pitch count low.

“I wasn’t trying to throw as hard as I could. I was trying to find the zone,” Buchholz said. “I was up a little bit, but I got done what I needed to. I hadn’t thrown 40 pitches all together yet through all this stuff. That was something I needed to do.”

Buchholz recorded two outs and allowed three runs, only one of which was earned. He only surrendered one hit, but walked three and struck out one.

Buchholz last pitched in a game of any sort on June 8, leaving a start against the Los Angeles Angels with a strained trapezius muscle in his neck after making a pair of awkward plays in the field.

During the course of that rehab, Buchholz was diagnosed with inflammation of the bursa sac in his right shoulder, which further delayed his return.

Buchholz threw bullpen sessions in Houston and Toronto earlier this month and pitched a three-inning simulated game at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Tuesday. He is likely to throw a bullpen session at Fenway Park on Wednesday and should next make a start for Double-A Portland or at Triple-A Pawtucket, both of which play home games Friday.

After that, Buchholz may get a third minor league start depending on the playoff schedules of the Red Sox’ affiliates.

Buchholz said he’s just looking forward to getting another chance against hitters in a real game.

“I could definitely use it,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t pitched in 21⁄2 months. It’s an art. If you don’t do it for an extended period of time, you feel awkward doing it.

“Facing batters in a game is completely different than facing the guys on my team. I think one more (rehab start) would do it, if I can get up and down enough times. Obviously, I have to find the strike zone more often.”